US aviation, Lockheed Martin keen to tie-up with Indian firms
IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency
New Delhi, June 20, IRNA
India-US-Aviation
US aviation major Lockheed Martin, in the race to sell 126 F-16 jets to the air force, is in talks with Indian firms like HAL and the Tata group for the outsourcing of aircraft components.
The firm's Advanced Development Programs divisions, which works on research in cutting edge areas like stealth and surveillance technologies, was also keen on forging ties with Indian information technology and research firms, said Joseph Stout, Lockheed's director of communication in an interview with a leading Indian news agency, PTI here on Monday.
He said that they had had preliminary talks with firms like Hindustan Aeronautics Limited, Tata and Larsen and Toubro and their teams had surveyed their capabilities and were 'encouraged by their capabilities'.
As part of efforts to establish a presence in India, Lockheed was eyeing the prospect of outsourcing components for the F-16 fighter jets and other aircraft, including the hugely successful C-130 Hercules transport aircraft, to Indian firms.
If Lockheed bags the deal to supply 126 jets to the Indian Air Force, the request for proposals for which are likely to be issued soon, a 'majority' of the jets will be built by state-owned HAL following the transfer of technology, Stout said.
Stout informed that Frank Cappuccio, the executive vice president of Advanced Development Programs or Skunk Works, which network-centric warfare systems and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) use, would visit India later in the year to scout avenues for cooperation.
He added that though they had no agreements in place, 'it is important for Lockheed Martin to establish a presence in India'.
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